Centrifugal drier



Nov. 10, 1953 Filed sept. 15, 1948 W. H. NOBLES CENTRIFUGAL DRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet l AZ-r- Za/@f'en ff. nobles QM LML NOV. 10, 1953 W. H, NOBLES 2,658,619

CENTRIF'UGAL DRIER Filed Sept. 15, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 war/"en H. noble@ NOV. 10, 1953 W, NOBLES 2,658,619

CENTRIFUGAL DRIER Filed sept. 15, 194s` s sheets-sheet 3 5.7' 4 Warren 7kb/es Patented Nov. l0, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CENTRIFUGAL DRIER Warren H. Nobles, St. Paul, Minn. Application September 15, 1948, Serial No. 49,360

2 Claims.

MyV invention relates to an improvement in centrifugal dryer wherein it is desired to provide an effective apparatus for drying materials of various types.

Metal stampings, machine parts and the like are often cleaned with a suitable cleaning material after formation thereof. It is desirable that the parts be dried after cleaning in order to prevent rust and corrosion and to enable the parts to be packed for shipment without delay.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus particularly designed for use in drying such objects so that they may be completely freed of moisture in a minimum of time.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a dryer including a rotatable fo'raminous receptacle in which the articles to be dried may be placed. As the receptacle is rotated, the moisture thereon tends to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force. Simultaneously air is drawn through the objects being dried so as to remove the moisture in a minimum of time.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a foraminous receptacle which is rotatably supported in an outer casing in such a manner that the parts being cleaned can not readily engage or catch between the receptacle and the casing. As a result the movement of the elements being dried by centrifugal force will not cause these parts to wedge between the receptacle and the casing to interfere with rotation thereof.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a series of fan blades on the lower end of the receptacle and in shaping the casing soas to form a volute enclosing the blades. Rotation of the blades forces air from the casing in the manner of a centrifugal fan creating a draft of air through the parts being dried during rotation thereof.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a hinged cover which folds over the motor control in open position. Thus the motor can not be conveniently operated while the cover is in open position, preventing the chance of having rotating parts flung from the uncovered receptacle during rotation thereof.

An added feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a casing enclosing fan blades and forming a volute regardless of the vdirection of rotation of the blades. As a result the receptacle may be rotated in either direction with equal ease and the parts being dried may be spun rst in one direction and then in the other to more Vthoroughly dry the same.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a brake for stopping the rotation of the receptacle when desired. This brake is actuated by a semicircular ring pivoted on opposite sides of the casing and partially encircling the same. Downward force against this ring will actuate the brake to stop. rotation of the receptacle. The brake may thus be actuated from various points about the circumference of the device.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my dryer showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan View of my dryer with the drive pulley thereof removed to show the brake structure.

Figure 3 is avertical sectional View through the dryer to show the arrangement of the parts thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view horizontally through the dryer, the position of the section being indicated by the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the brake actuating mechanism showing the construction thereof.

The dryer A includes a base I0 and a cylindrical casing portion I I mounted thereupon. The base I0 includes an encircling side wall IN2 having a mounting iiange I3 at the lower end thereof. The base Ill is provided with an inwardly extending flange I 4 at its upper extremity. The ring shaped flange I5 on the lower end of the cylindrical casing portion II is bolted to the flange I4 by cap screws or bolts I6.

As indicated in Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings the side wall I2 of the base portion includes a rounded body having a radially extending re1atively narrow conduit Il extending therefrom. The base also includes a. laterally extending housing portion I 9 which is only a portion of the height of the remainder of the base and acts as a support for the vdriving motor as will be later described in detail.

The casing base I0 includes a horizontally extending partition Wall 20 spaced below the flange I4 and acting as a support for a hub 2 I. The hub 2I is also connected to the side wall I2 by means of strengthening ribs 22 and 23 best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings.

'I'he hub 2| supports a pair of spaced ball bearings 24 and 25. The inner race of the lower bearing 25 is held in place upon a vertical drive shaft 26 by a nut 2l threaded to the shaft. A spacing 3 sleeve '29 encircles a 'portion of the shaft 26 between the inner races of the bearings 25 and 24 to hold these bearings in spaced relation and to clamp the inner races of the bearings against a shoulder 30 of the shaft 26. The outer race of the upper bearing 24 is held in fixed position within the hub 2| by seating against a shoulder 3| in the hub and being held there by a clamping ring 32 secured to the hub by bolts or cap screws 33.

A disc like support 34 is secured to the lower end of the hub 2| by bolts or cap screws 35. The support 34 acts to hold a pin 36 in vertical position, the pin extending through a boss 31 on the support 34. The pin 36 is provided with a downwardly projecting enlarged diameter end 39 which engages against the lower end of the boss 31. The pin is held in place by a nut 40 engaging the upper threaded end thereof.

A rotatable shaft 4| is supported by a boss 42 in diametrically opposed relation to the pin 36. The lower end 43 of the shaft 4| is rectangular or flattened for a purpose which will be later described. A bevel gear 44 is mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 43 to rotate therewith. The gear 44 is in mesh with a cooperable gear 45 on a transversely extending shaft 46. The shaft 46 is supported by the ribs 23 and by the walls l2 of the housing base and the ends of the shaft 46 project externally of the base walls.

A pulley 41 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft 26 and is held in place by a nut 49. The pulley 41 is externally grooved for accommodation of drive belts 50. The belts 50 are also engaged with a pulley mounted upon the vertical motor shaft 52. The motor 53 is provided with a mounting flange or plate 54 which rests upon the upper surface of the motor supporting portion I9 of the casing base. The shaft 52 extends through an aperture 55 in the base and supports the pulley 5|.

As best illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawings a generally ring shaped brake shoe 56 is mounted within the pulley, the inner cylindrical surface 51 of the pulley acting as a brake drum for the expanding shoe 56. The brake shoe includes a pair of semi-circular opposed portions 59 and 60 which are connected at one end by a loop shaped connecting element 6|. The element 6| loosely encircles the downwardly projecting end 39 of the pin 36. Thus the pin properly locates the brake shoe and holds it from rotation, but allows adjustment and expansion thereof.

The other ends of the brake shoe portions 59 and 60 are spaced apart as indicated at 62 to accommodate the square or flattened end 43 of the shaft 4|. Rotation of the shaft 4| thus tends to urge the ends of the brake shoe portions 59 and 60 apart to expand the shoe against the drum. A suitable brake lining 63 is provided on the brake shoe so as to provide an efficient brake. A spring 64 tends to normally contract the brake shoe against the shaft end 43.

A semi-circular ring 65 partially encircles the base I0 and is connected at its ends to attachment plates 66. The attachment plates 66 are provided with a boss 61 which encircles the transverse shaft 46 and is freely rotatable thereon. An arm 69 is provided with a hub 10 keyed or pinned to the shaft 46. An arcuate slot 1| is provided in the arm 69 for accommodation of a clamping bolt 12. The clamping bolt 12 may be tightened in any adjusted position to allow angular adjustment between the arm 69 and the bracket plates 66. A spring 13 is interposed between a lug 14 on each bracket plate 66 and the body of the casing, tending to rotate the bracket plates in a direction to hold the ring 65 elevated. Downward pressure upon the ring 65 acts to compress the spring 13 and pivotal movement of each plate 66 acts through the arm 69 to which it is bolted to rotate the shaft 46.

Rotation of the shaft 46 acts through the meshing bevel gears 45 and 44 to rotate the shaft 4| to expand the brake shoe 56. Thus by pressing downwardly on the ring 65 the brake may be expanded, tending to hold the pulley 41 from rotation.

A receptacle 15 is integral with or secured to the upper end of the shaft 26. The receptacle 15 includes a disc-shaped bottom 16 and a hollow cylindrical side wall 11 extending upwardly therefrom. A ring 19 is bolted or otherwise secured by bolts or cap screws t0 the under surface of the receptacle bottom 16. This ring 19 is provided with a series of vanes or blades 8l extending axially of the receptacle with their broad faces positioned radially. The ring 19 is of slightly larger diameter than the receptacle base and the vanes 8| form a centrifugal blower or vane for forcing air through the casing. One opening 18 in the bottom 16 is visible in Figure 3, inwardly of the vanes 8|. As indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the casing wall I8 is eccentric with respect to the shaft 26 so that the casing wall fits fairly closely to the outer ends of the vanes 8| at one point 82 and is spaced a substantial 'distance from the ends of the vanes at a diametrically opposite point. Opposite the point 82 of the casing, the casing wall extends outwardly to form the outlet conduit |1 which terminates at a flange 83 on the casing base. The end of the conduit |1 is provided with an opening 84 through which the ar and moisture may leave the casing base. Thus air is blown outwardly by the vanes 8| through the conduit l1 and out from the open lower end of this conduit. The eccentric shape of the casing wall at the point encircling the blades provides a double volute which guides the air into the conduit |1 regardless of the direction of rotation of the blades. A damper valve 85 is pivotally supported on a vertical pivot 86 near the extremities of the vanes 8| in line with the conduit |1. This damper 85 is engageable with either wall of the conduit to guide the air from the blades into the conduit regardless of the direction of rotation of the blades, the damper 85 being actuated by the velocity head produced by the blades 8|. When the damper valve 85 is in the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the blades are set to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction. When the damper valve 85 has swung into engagement with the opposite wall of the conduit |1, the air blown by the blades travelling in a clockwise direction will be guided into the outlet conduit.

The wall 11 of the receptacle 15 is foraminous and is provided with spaced holes 81 therethrough. A screen 89 is wrapped about the side wall 11 and covers the apertures 81 so as to allow water to pass through the apertures, but to prevent the passage of parts being dried therethrough. The screen 89 may be held in place in any suitable manner, but is shown formed 1n two semi-circular portions having at opposite ends out-turned flanges which are held in cylinder enc1rcling position by the inturned channel sides of clamping channels 90. The channels 96 are held in place by bolts or cap screws 9|. y

The cover 92 includes a top panel 93 and a hollow cylindrical depending skirt 94. A handle 95 is provided on one side of the cover 92 and hinge lugs 96 are mounted on the opposite side thereof. The hinge lugs 96 are pivotally connected by a hinge pin 91 to a bracket 99 on the casing Thus the cover may be hinged into open position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, or into closed position shown in Figure 3 thereof. The cover panel 93* is provided with apertures |00 therethrough through which air may enter the casing. When in closed position the lower edge of the cover bears against an inwardly extending ring shaped flange at the upper end of the casing wall Il. The flange |0| ts closely adjacent the upper end of the receptacle 15 so that the parts being dried can not become wedged between the receptacle wall and the flange.

A motor control unit |62 is mounted upon the casing wall adjacent the hinge bracket 99 so that the motor control lever |03 is directly beneath the cover in open position thereof. Thus the motor control handle is inconvenient to use when the cover is hinged into open position, thus obviating the danger of having the operator start the motor into operation while the cover is opened. As the receptacle rotates with considerable speed, there is a possibility that the parts being dried might be flung with considerable force from the open top of the receptacle if the top is open.

The operation of my device has for the most part been explained in conjunction with the foregoing description. When the parts to be dried have been inserted into the receptacle 15, the cover 92 is closed and the motor control lever |03 manipulated to start the motor 53 into operation. The motor shaft 52 rotates the pulley 5| and acts through the belts 56 to drive the pulley 41. Rotation of the pulley 41 acts to rotate the pulley shaft 26 and the receptacle 15 integral therewith is connected thereto. Air is drawn downwardly through the receptacle and through the bottom 16, and is blown outwardly by the vanes 8| to the outlet opening 84.

After the parts have been dried for a predetermined time the motor control is turned oif and the receptacle is stopped. This stopping may be quickly accomplished by a downward pressure on the brake control ring 65 which rotates the shaft 46. As previously described rotation of the shaft 46 acts through the bevel gears 44 and 45 to expand the brake shoe 56 against the inner surface of the pulley 41. Stopping of the receptacle by the brake is often desired because the efficiency of the dryer decreases considerably at lower speeds and because the high speed of rotation of t'he rotor and the weight often placed in the receptacle will tend to continue the rotation of the receptacle without affecting much drying action.

The motor control is then preferably actuated to rotate the receptacle 15 in a reverse direction. This operation not only tends to change the relative position of the parts being dried, but also tends to force liquid caught in pockets in the parts outwardly. The flow of air through the parts during the drying operation greatly increases the eiciency of the drying action.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the lprinciples of construction and operation of my centrifugal dryer, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A dryer including a rotatable receptacle provided with a plurality of apertures in its side walls, means rotatably supporting said receptacle on a generally vertical axis, a receptacle bottom having an opening therethrough, a centrifugal blower including angularly spaced vanes subjacent the bottom of the receptacle and rotatable therewith, a casing enclosing the sides and bottom of the receptacle, a portion of the casing tapering to form a volute encircling the vanes, and said casing having an outlet communicating with said volute, rotation of said receptacle and blower acting to draw air downwardly through said receptacle and through said volute to said outlet.

2. A dryer including a rotatable receptacle provided with a plurality of apertures in its side walls, means rotatably supporting said receptacle on a generally vertical axis, a receptacle bottom having an opening therethrough, a centrifugal blower including angularly spaced vanes subjacent the bottom of the receptacle and rotatable therewith, a casing enclosing the sides and bottom of the receptacle, a portion of the casing tapering to form a volute encircling the vanes, and said casing having an outlet communicating with said volute, rotation of said receptacle and blower acting to draw air downwardly through said receptacle and through said volute to said outlet, said. volute including portions tapering in two circumferential directions from said closely spaced portion to an opposite intermediate enlarged portion, and a movable damper pivotally supported on a generally vertical axis and swingable against said casing on either side of said outlet to selectively direct air from either tapering volute portion to said outlet.

WARREN H. NOBLES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,071,956 Psarski Sept. 2, 1913 1,531,844 Colclough Mar. 31, 1925 1,602,463 Sparks et al. Oct. 12, 1926 1,633,570 Carroll June 28, 1927 1,773,584 Keys Aug. 19, 1930 1,791,536 Perry Feb. 10, 1931 1,815,934 Stephens et al. July 28, 1931 1,970,552 Berge Aug. 21, 1934 2,046,806 Baum et al. July 7, 1936 2,254,565 Chappelle Sept. 2, 1941 2,406,187 Bayless Aug. 20, 1946' 2,498,894 McCormick Feb. 28, 1950 2,502,823 Clark Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 507,721 Great Britain June 20, 1939 

